The hope for The Elf...

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Ben Leber had said about 3 months ago that Minnesota might try Elflein at RG because that was his college spot. We'll see if it makes any difference.

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Reiff-Collins-Bradburry-Samia-ONeill, Cleveland, Elf, Dozier, Udoh, Hill

If Collins stays healthy, there is something there with his size, strength, and ability to move.  I would love to see him stay healthy, as I think he’s a quality NFL starter.  It’s the RG position that needs to find a solid OL starter.  Moving forward with the tackles we have, we should be quite set (ONeill, Cleveland, Udoh) for a while, Center too.

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This group can't figure out the line, that much is certain. i Think Elf needs competition and not just the job given to him again. 

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@purplefaithful said:

@HappyViking said:
Sounds like they want to see if they can plug him in the lineup somewhere that might work before fully giving up on him.  Seems reasonable to me.   I know many IL can switch from LG to C to RG or vice versa, but isn't it fairly common players are only comfortable on one side?

Yup,

He was a high draft choice and they need better play (ers) especially on the interior line. We can joke and angst all we want, but they cant give up on him yet. 

OL is keeping us from the promised land, for too long now. 

last year DT was just as big of an achilles.  so we have heard about iron sharpening iron,  but when our 2 weakest positions will determine who starts where I dont see much room for optimism.

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@JimmyinSD said:

@purplefaithful said:

@HappyViking said:
Sounds like they want to see if they can plug him in the lineup somewhere that might work before fully giving up on him.  Seems reasonable to me.   I know many IL can switch from LG to C to RG or vice versa, but isn't it fairly common players are only comfortable on one side?

Yup,

He was a high draft choice and they need better play (ers) especially on the interior line. We can joke and angst all we want, but they cant give up on him yet. 

OL is keeping us from the promised land, for too long now. 

last year DT was just as big of an achilles.  so we have heard about iron sharpening iron,  but when our 2 weakest positions will determine who starts where I dont see much room for optimism.

I agree. This board bagged on the offensive line but they weren't nearly as bad as what was said in here. I think interior D-line was bad last year and without Pierce now, might be even worse. I'm not buying the Shamar Stephen crap, that's preseason fluff. 

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@RS Express said:

@purplefaithful said:
 said Kubiak“I think we're looking at the big picture. Pat's a good player. He had a good year. 

How was Kubiak not immediately struck by lightning?

But he did have a good year. Several.   2017, 2016...Just nothing recent.

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To be fair to Elflein, yes, he was terrible in pass pro, but he was one of the better run blocking guards in the NFL last year. At least according to PFF. 

If he can improve his pass blocking at his old position, now between Bradbury and O'Neill, both of whom should be much better surrounds than he had last year, we might just be onto something. 

Still, I'm sort of rooting for Samia to beat him out. He's the opposite. Good in pass pro, but struggles in the run game. 

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Kenny Clark, Z'Darius, Goldstein, Shapiro, Hicks, Roquan Smith, K.Mack...

Vikings better get stouter in the OL, much stouter. 

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@purplefaithful said:
Kenny Clark, Z'Darius, Goldstein, Shapiro, Hicks, Roquan Smith, K.Mack...

Vikings better get stouter in the OL, much stouter. 

Did you throw in a law firm? Who’s Goldstein & Shapiro...?  B)  

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Another comment from this story that I'm not totally comfortable about - Cleveland being tried at LG. His future is at one of the OT spots and I think the Vikings OL coaches have confused young linemen by moving them around too much.